Delhi poll panel urges people to vote in large numbers

New Delhi, Nov 28 (IANS) Delhi’s Election Commission Friday appealed to people to vote in large numbers Saturday and not fear terror strikes in the wake of the attacks in Mumbai.Chief Election Officer Satbir Silas Bedi urged all eligible voters to not sit at home and said: “If we don’t vote, then in a way we are supporting the cowardly act of terrorists.”

She added that the poll panel was well prepared to hold elections in the city in a peaceful manner.

Polling officers have reviewed the security arrangements in the city and at the polling stations for Saturday, Bedi said.

“We are keeping an eye on all television channels and if they show any election related advertisements, we will book them for violating the code of conduct,” the official added.

“We have also asked the police to keep a strict vigil, especially at the Delhi borders so that no unwanted elements enter the city,” Bedi said.

Polling will be held in Delhi Saturday to elect a new state assembly, with 863 candidates from as many as 69 parties contesting the elections. Voting will be held for 69 out of a total 70 seats and counting of votes will take place Dec 8.

Voting will begin from 8 a.m and will end at 5 p.m.

A total of 10.7 million people, nearly 25 percent more than in 2003, are eligible to vote at nearly 11,000 polling booths. Over 1,500 booths have been declared ’sensitive’ and ‘hypersensitive’ - a five-fold increase since the last election.